abstract pendingThis article summarizes a longer piece – “Implementing Balanced and Restorative Justice: The Illinois Experience‿ - written by the authors listed above for the Loyola Law Journal. In 1889 Illinois established the first juvenile court. One hundred years later, Illinois adopted the balanced and restorative justice approach in its Juvenile Court Act and initiated a new reform of its juvenile justice system. The authors provide background to the adoption of this approach in Illinois, explain key aspects of BARJ, and identify important questions that must be addressed for the long-term success of the Illinois BARJ initiative.